Seth Harwood on Podcasting and Social Media

April 21st, 2009 · 7 Comments
by Kassia Krozser

Last week, the Internets were treated to a rather whiny post from an author who felt that agents were the only thing standing between her and literary greatness. The truth of the matter is that it’s a tough business out there, and sometimes it takes talent plus a little something extra to get your work noticed. Sometimes it takes thinking outside the box.

Over the past few years, we’ve had the special privilege of meeting some authors who not only exhibit incredible talent, but also the ability to connect with readers — in a huge way — through non-traditional means. One of those great people, author Seth Harwood, is now counting down the days to his major label debut for his first novel Jack Wakes Up (listen to our previous interview with Seth interview here).

Note the use of the phrase “major label debut”. Jack Wakes Up was picked up by a small press before attracting the notice of Three Rivers Press. Before that, Harwood podcast the novel. Oh yeah, he gave it away free. Or, he believed in his work enough to make sure it reached an audience. Harwood, who received his MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, knows one important thing: it’s the story…and a whole lot more.

In the video linked below, he talks about how he did his thing. Your results may vary, but the true lesson is that you make your own success.

File Under: Non-Traditional Publishing

7 responses so far ↓

  • Venusian // Apr 22, 2009 at 7:14 am

    This is a lot more interesting than Jonathan Karp’s rant. All of that may be true ( that Mr. Karp says ) but it’s only during this crash that I’ve heard the term GATEKEEPERS hurled around ( and with such fiesty rage, it’s as though they feel threatened or something… ) My first resonse to Gatekeepers was, well @%$$ you. Then then warm glow of reading the panic underneath. Not that I’m saying we need more books on ‘what kind of tofu would jesus like’. That has to stop, he is right about that.

  • jim duncan // Apr 22, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    Very interesting stuff. Certainly makes me want to check out the possibilities with podcasts as a way to generate interest in my suspense novel.

  • Joanna Penn // Apr 22, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    Since hearing about JC Hutchins, Scott Sigler and now Seth Harwood, I have been listening to podcast novels and loving them! They are a fantastic (and free!!) way to reach your audience. Web 2.0 to book deal ! You can get lots more podcast novels at http://www.podiobooks.com/ (and of course submit your own there as well!)
    Thanks, Joanna

  • Adam Maxwell // Apr 23, 2009 at 4:11 am

    Totally agree – and I would thoroughly recommend podcasting to any authors out there. I started it a couple of years ago for my Flash Fiction and now get over 3000 downloads (and rising!) every month.

    Happy to share my experiences if anyone is interested but in a nutshell I found that keeping them short was the key!

  • Weekly wrap up « Publishing Renaissance // Apr 24, 2009 at 7:53 am

    […] Booksquare: Seth Harwood on Podcasting and Social Media ( “Your results may vary, but the true lesson is that you make your own […]

  • Evo Terra // Apr 29, 2009 at 8:59 am

    YMMV (your mileage may vary) is quite true. All of the “successful” authors embracing new media share one thing in common: they relentlessly connect with fans. For many authors, that’s a new prospect. The old model was do a few book signing, maybe a reading here and there, hit the odd convention… and let the publisher take care of the rest.

    And that model still works.

    But this new model — quite obviously — is working, too. Sustainable? Well, it has been for four years? But for the long haul? Hey, who knows what tomorrow will bring. I’m only confident in one thing — it won’t slide backwards. Seth and his peers that do it this way will *always* do it this way. Or do more in new ways. Sliding back to a more passive role just isn’t an option.

    I’m looking forward to it!

  • Podcast Directory // Apr 30, 2009 at 6:24 am

    really an interesting scheme should be checked.